Dorset Buttons: Playing with an Old Technique in New Ways – Gillian Noonan
Skill Expectations for this Workshop:
Be able to work with embroidery needles and varying weights of thread and wool.
Duration: 4 hours | Capacity: 15
Location: Level 2 – Elm Room
Instructor will supply these materials:
- A kit to make three buttons will be provided for each participant.
Students must supply these materials:
- Participants should bring a small pair of embroidery scissors and are welcome to bring scraps of fingering weight yarn or embroidery thread.
Dorset button making has been around since the 1750s. In this class, you will learn the basic skills to bring this old technique to your modern knits. We will begin with the construction of a simple woolen button using leftover sock yarn. From there we will explore construction of more elaborate buttons using perle cotton and embellishments (beads, wool). Participants should be able to complete two buttons in the class and have a third well underway.
In this workshop, you will learn:
- How to construct a Dorset button
- Basic embroidery stitches
Gillian Noonan
Handwork of all kinds has been a constant thread in my life. My grandmother and mother were my first teachers and greatest influences. Any opportunity to learn through the help of others, the taking of classes or reading has added to my practice. Now as a retired teacher, I practice my knitting, …
Tickets are non-refundable except in limited circumstances as described in the Purchase Policy.




